"We think we are about two to three months away from the start of construction. The project involves adding two direct connect flyovers, one connecting I-45 northbound to Texas 242 westbound, and the other, Texas 242 westbound to I-45 southbound," said Rick Kronenberger, director of design service for Pate.

The flyovers, he said, are ramps and will be similar to what is in place at the I-45 and Woodlands Parkway intersection. "This is the scenario after which we are modeling the 242 and I-45 project," Kronenberger said.

Toll fees for the Texas 242 and I-45 connectors have yet to be determined, said Montgomery County Precinct 3 Commissioner Ed Chance.

"This is the most congested intersection in the county. The movement east and west off of I-45 is of paramount importance. The tolls will probably be mitigated, that is rise and fall based on usage, but this is all being studied and calculated now," he said.

County Judge Alan Sadler agrees with Chance's assessment of the problem.

"This is probably the worst intersection in Montgomery County and one of the worst in the region. People have to sit through as many as two to four light cycles before they can move through," he said.

"This is our first venture into the toll road business. The toll rates have not been set yet, but will be similar to those charged by the Harris County Toll Road Authority."

Sadler said the rates will probably be determined within the next few months.

Construction costs are estimated at $29 million.

The project is being completed by Montgomery County through TxDOT's pass-through toll program.

According to TxDOT, pass-through funding is a financing tool the state created to stretch already limited tax highway dollars and to allow local communities to fund upfront costs for constructing a highway project. The state then reimburses a portion of the project cost to the community over time by paying a fee for each vehicle that drives the new highway.

The county is funding the project under the pass-through bond program approved by voters in 2005.